Be Cart Smart

In June 2012, the Kirkland City Council passed a new ordinance simplifying residential cart placement regulations. The regulations were implemented to make pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers safer, and improve neighborhood aesthetics.

Help keep your neighborhood safe for people walking, biking, and driving by placing your carts where they don't block the sidewalk, bike lane, or traffic flow.

Cart Placement Guidelines

Place carts out no earlier than 24 hoursbefore your service day

Remove carts from public property no later than 24 hours after your service day

Place your carts with 2 feet of space between them for easy servicing

Place your carts in planter strips between the curb and sidewalk, if you have them

Where planter strips are not available, place carts so they don't block the sidewalk (or shoulder), bike lane, or traffic lane

Place carts on the edge of your driveway, where they are still accessible to Waste Management trucks but are not blocking the sidewalk

Place carts back from the fogline, not right next to it - leave enough room on shoulders for people biking and walking to get by without needing to enter the traffic lane

Leave enough room on sidewalks so people using wheelchairs and pushing strollers can get by without needing to enter the road or bike lane

Examples of Cart Placement

Do Place on Planting Strips

Carts are on the planter strip.

Don't Block Bike Lanes

Cart is blocking the bicycle lane. Instead, place carts on the planter strip.

Do Keep Sidewalks Clear

Carts are not restricting pedestrians from using the sidewalk.

Don't Block Sidewalks

Pedestrians have to go off the sidewalk and into the bicycle lane to get around.Instead, place carts at the edge of the driveway.

Do Keep Sidewalks + Bike Lanes Clear

Carts are not blocking the sidewalk, bicycle lane, and street.

Don't Block Shoulder Use

Very busy street. Not enough room for pedestrians or bicyclists to get by. Instead, place carts at the edge of the driveway.

Do Keep Sidewalks Clear

Carts are on the driveway (private property), but still accessible to Waste Management trucks.

Don't Place Next to Fogline

Carts are accessible to Waste Management trucks, but are next to the fogline. Instead, pull carts back onto the grass, or place at the edge of the driveway.